Alas, as the membership fee is a bit steep for me, (also, the society seems to be more oriented to glass blowers rather than fusers) as non-members we were only able to access the public displays at this conference.

Our main goal was to visit the Bullseye Glass booth, as I am planning to use a great deal more of their product in my own work. We had a great visit with the reps at the booth, who were very welcoming and receptive to all questions. I scored a great re-usable Bulleye shopping bag to fill with show literature and give-aways.

Next we met a few more helpful reps from Covington Engineering and HIS Glassworks. We began asking questions about coldworking equipment, but the conversation was cut short as they were leaving for the GAS gallery tour. They were nice enough to encourage us to tag along, and we quickly changed our plans to do just that. What a great decision that turned out to be, as we toured the Ken Saunders Gallery, Echt Gallery, and the Vale Craft Gallery, all located on W. Superior in Chicago.

One of my favorite pieces was by artist Steve Jensen, combining natural wood with resin and glass.

Jensen hails from Seattle, WA, coming from a long tradition of Norwegian fishermen and boat builders. He grew up on his father’s fishing boat. His artwork displays incredible range in mediums including glass, wood carving, and bronze sculpture.

This is a close-up of a piece by Harue Shimomoto that was another favorite of mine:

I once watched Shimomoto unpacking and hanging a piece at a SOFA show in Chicago. The delicate traceries of glass are hung in overlapping sections to create the full display. It was amazing to think that you can actually ship something this delicate.

Although this blog could go on for days on this topic, I’ll just include one more piece today, from Thomas Scoon:

Again, I am drawn to pieces that combine natural materials with glass, in this case, chunks of stone.

“Stone/glass/stone/glass, the two substances layered like some sedimentary strata on the side of a cliff. But, though cold to the touch, Scoon’s assemblages still echo with their igneous source; this is the stuff of magma and the core.” – James Yood, Art Critic

It was quite a memorable evening. We were completely taken in by the art displays, but also tremendously enjoyed the company of the HIS Glassworks and Covington Engineering representatives. Their observations and comments were interesting and informative.

I have upgraded my Rowanberry Studio website, using a lovely template from WordPress.: http://www.rowanberrystudio.com. I have Fall/Winter shows coming up, so this is a great time to have a new showcase.

Art of the Land is one of my favorite shows. I participated last year and can’t wait to go back to the Starline Gallery this September. I hope any of you blog readers who are local can come out to see the show. Entries must be nature-inspired, showcasing the beauty of McHenry County. The people involved are warm and welcoming. The Starline is amazing. See more about the Starline, an old factory turned studio space. See more about the great work being done by the Land Conservancy of McHenry County.

Ah, it’s Friday, but is that a sigh of relief at the end of the week, or a new breath to gain energy for all that can be done over the weekend? With Affair of the Arts complete, I am looking forward to another art show that is a lot of fun. If your weekends are busy, this show gives you plenty of options to choose from.

We had a beautiful day yesterday for Affair of the Arts. It is fun to see familiar faces year after year, and we hear many compliments about the quality of the show and the beauty of the venue. The Shores of Turtle Creek is such a sun-lit, expansive place, so perfect for an art show. We are lucky to be able to work with them each year.

Affair of the Arts at The Shores of Turtle Creek

I wanted to get some updated pictures of the show, but fell short, (busy day…) so excuse the dated picture above from one of our first shows. It does give a feel for the venue, though, so I posted it anyway. People loved being able to stroll through, glass of chilled wine in hand, and view, purchase, or just chat with the artists.

Our artists are all exceptional, and wonderful to work with. I could spend all day mentioning each one, but you can follow the link to see pictures and links: www.affairofthearts.org. I would like to make a special mention of guest musician, Nick LiChard, who was kind enough to play and sing live for us at the beginning of the show. It set a great tone, and compliments were flying. Truly a talented artist! See more about Nick: http://www.facebook.com/eyesforever3

Another great outcome of this year’s show is the collaboration between Rowanberry Studio and blacksmith artist Will Slagel. Will was commissioned a customized iron stand for my co-worker at Rowanberry, Amy Guanci. She was kind enough to lend it to me for displaying my latest piece, Kaleidescope Mandala:

Linda Oeffling, Kaleidescope, and Will Slagel, Forged Iron Base

Unfortunately for Amy, she couldn’t enjoy it for long, because it sold!

We hooked up with another “home” show with Gabi Sparacio, who took steps to get us into a larger and more legitimate space, and began to host shows twice a year at a local wedding/event venue called The Shores of Turtle Creek.

This year we have a full house – over 35 artists on two levels. We actually have a waiting list and have to turn people away – something we only imagined when we began calling ourselves an Art Show. We have also grown to include the Spring Grove Area Art Walk – with local studios opening their doors and welcoming art lovers into their working spaces.

There is a great group of talented people coming to display their work. Many are regulars who have been with us since the beginning, but there are always new faces and new art to discover at each successive show.

Here it comes, this weekend! The Sculptural Objects and Functional Art Show in Chicago – SOFA, one of the world’s more foremost fairs of contemporary art and design, will be at Navy Pier November 4 – 6, 2011. And for the second year in a row, they will share the Pier’s Festival Hall with The Intuit Show of Folk & Outsider Art.

Here is a sampling of some of the artists who will be attending this year:

Jun Kaneko, ceramic sculpture

Tanija and Graham Carr, leather sculpture

John Kiley, blown glass sculpture

More than 60 international art dealers and galleries will be featured this year. You will be awed and amazed by the variety and quality of art at this show.

The Art of the Land Benefit at the Starline Factory Gallery in Harvard this past weekend was a first class event. The caliber of art was high, delicious food abounded, and I think the Land Conservancy of McHenry County pulled in some well-deserved funds for their cause, helping protect over 1800 acres of McHenry County’s prairies, wetlands and woodlands. The art was truly a reflection of the beauty of the land we take for granted in this part of the Midwest.

Setting up for the event at the Starline Factory Gallery.

Owner Orrin Kinney has been renovating this enormous space, and is extremely supportive of the artists who are working here. He provided these blocks, cut from original building timber, for use as display pedestals. Featured here, Mary Jean Deja’s pottery.

Mary Mariutto, Magic Mushroom Series

I love Mariutto’s work, delving into the intricate mysteries that are found beneath the surface of the land.

Kelly Bissell, Global Warming

Bissell takes the art of crafting with wood to the highest level. His finished and polished pieces were jaw-dropping.

Doug DeWitt, Shred

DeWitt’s pieces contain items found in nature, things from old construction sites. Some of them also contain his photos, and journal entries that detail the work done on the many little jobs it takes to maintain a property. They had a unique, rustic flavor.

Yvonne Beckway

This is one of my very favorites, and I have to apologize for not getting the name of this piece. Yvonne Beckway creates these beautiful, mystical scenes, using ash from plants she has burned. It is an involved process, done out of doors, with nature’s whimsy taking a hand in the creation.

Linda Oeffling, Meadow

This piece of mine sold in the last 5 minutes of the show.

Another interesting part of this event was a photo contest, held to showcase the land around McHenry County. Amateur photographers are assigned a site location, one of the dedicated land areas. They take pictures and submit their five best to the contest. One final photo is selected, and approx. 40 finals are then displayed at the Art of the Land. What a great way to share these special places!

I also have to mention the Friday night event at this Benefit, Voices of the Land, led by renowned storyteller Jim May. Friday night’s “coffeehouse” show included musicians, poets, and people that shared their love of the land through the spoken medium. Attendees could wander about the space, perusing the art while listening, and then also take a seat for a closer spot, and participate if they so chose.

I look forward to applying as an artist again next year. An unforgettable event with an interesting crowd and a notable group of artists, put on by an outstanding group of people. Put it on your calendar.